Suicidal man who fought police enters plea

A 34-year-old Oceola Township man initially accused of holding his girlfriend against her will faces up to 15 years in prison after entering a plea in the case.

Prosecutors dismissed an unlawful imprisonment allegation against Shawn Aaron Thomas in exchange for a guilty plea to carrying a weapon with unlawful intent and three counts of resisting police, including one count alleging he injured an officer.

However, Thomas’ plea was changed to no contest when he was unable to articulate details about resisting police. He said he was “highly intoxicated” and did not remember the incident, although he knows that officers were present and he tussled with them.

The prosecution agreed that Thomas’ minimum sentence will not exceed four years in prison as long as it falls within the state’s recommended sentencing guidelines.

Sentencing is Feb. 4 in Livingston County Circuit Court in Howell.

Thomas said the incident began when he and his girlfriend argued Aug. 24 while he was “highly intoxicated.”

“I was going to commit suicide,” he said. “… I threatened to shoot anyone who (came) near me, but I never pointed (the rifle) at anyone but myself.”

Thomas said the scuffle with sheriff’s deputies came after he dropped his rifle. He said he had a cigarette with a deputy, who asked him what it would take to get the weapon.

Thomas said he just wanted to say goodbye to his girlfriend and he “bent over to get a cigarette.”

“They thought I was going for my gun and tackled me,” he said.

At one point, the deputies’ tasered Thomas, who fired one round, according to a police report.

The bullet did not strike anyone, but one deputy suffered a torn bicep and was on medical leave for weeks after surgery.